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Building Strong Communities Together

This week, in celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary of confederation, DRPS joined Habitat for Humanity in Durham Region to support the nation-wide goal to build 150 homes across Canada simultaneously.

On July 12th, Indigenous youth from Oshawa's Carea Community Health Centre's Aboriginal program, the Metis Nation of Ontario summer youth cultural program participants and members of the Durham Region Metis Council worked together at Habitat for Humanity Durham's Indigenous Youth Build Day in Oshawa.

DRPS Deputy Chief Uday Jaswal said the work Habitat for Humanity is doing is very eye opening and the importance of that work builds strength in the community.

"Often as Canadians we think about the need in other communities and places outside Canada, but I think its projects like this that demonstrate that there's a lot of need for us here, locally here in Durham Region and communities across Canada," he commented. "I really thank you for the work that you're doing in terms of supporting safe and healthy communities, that's a mission that certainly the Durham Regional Police Service is involved with."

Deputy Jaswal committed to bringing a team of his colleagues back to the site in August for the 9-1-1 Build, a day where all emergency services members are invited to the site for a day of fun, teamwork and building.

In a joint venture with former U.S. President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter this is Habitat Canada's biggest build project ever with almost 50 communities in every province and territory helping to reach the goal.

Habitat for Humanity Durham, CEO Mary Bone said former President Carter and Mrs. Carter have been very active in the cause, supporting it during his presidency. This is the 34th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for the organization.

"It's the first time we've ever done a cross Canada initiative where everybody is building the same week and dedicating homes," Mrs. Bone said. "I am so thrilled to be able to partner with our Indigenous community and it's a new spurred on partnership."

Mary George, president of the Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle and Aboriginal project coordinator for Carea Community Health Centre in Oshawa said they're very proud to work with Habitat for Humanity Durham.

"We're really excited to see the things that are coming together for the Aboriginal community in Durham Region and we're really excited to see how many partners are coming out," she said. "It's all about building community and helping everybody take that step forward."